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NIU Theatre to present ‘A Song For Coretta’

Feb. 15, 2017

Northern Illinois University School of Theatre and Dance’s upcoming production of “A Song for Coretta,” written by Pearl Cleage, is a timeless piece that brings women from different walks of life together to honor Coretta Scott King, a woman that impacted all of their lives.

This relatable show will open Feb. 16 at the Holmes Student Center in the Diversions Lounge, 340 Carroll Ave. in DeKalb.

Written and performed in 2008, Cleage tells the story of five women, all different ages, waiting outside of the legendary Coretta Scott King’s wake to pay their respects. The story starts with college student and aspiring reporter, Zora Evans, interviewing people about the reasons that they are at King’s wake. During the interviews, you get the story of five women who all have their own unique story to tell, whether they knew Mrs. Scott King or not.

“All of these women are strangers but they all have this one thing in common: her,” Taylor Green, who plays the part of Helen Richards, said in a news release.

Through these women, “A Song for Coretta” addresses many issues that are at the forefront of our minds today.

“Being so close to our current political status as a country, especially with women, this play encompasses the struggle that women have always fought and still fight, but we have chosen to fight it in apositive way,” director Bethany Mangum said in the release.

“It’s a story that’s prominent for today, it’s a story worth telling,” Sonjanae Ashford, who plays Zora Evans, said in the release.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets cost $7. Ticket reservations or additional information is available by calling the box office at 815-753-1600 or visiting www.niu.edu/theatre/.